Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM8’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM8’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous and sturdy growth habit and rapid growth rate; dark greyed purple-colored leaves; numerous inflorescences with lavender-colored flowers; and good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Botanical designation: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM8’.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JM8’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant hereby assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claim a prior art exception under35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing datebut less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCrapemyrtle plant, botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM8’ andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘JM8’.

The new Crapemyrtle plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Poplarville, Miss. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new vigorous and freely-branchingCrapemyrtle plants with dark-colored leaves and attractive flowercolors.

The new Crapemyrtle plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor during the summer of 2016 of Lagerstroemia indica‘Natchez White’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withLagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Crapemyrtle plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor in May, 2017 as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nurseryenvironment in Poplarville, Miss.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crapemyrtle plant by vegetative softwoodcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Poplarville, Miss.since August, 2017 has shown that the unique features of the newCrapemyrtle plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘JM8’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘JM8’ as a new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Vigorous and sturdy growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   4. Dark greyed purple-colored leaves.    -   5. Numerous inflorescences with lavender-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Natchez White’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Natchez White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are dark greyed        purple in color whereas leaves of plants of ‘Natchez White’ are        light green in color; in addition, in the autumn, leaves of        plants of the new Crapemyrtle maintain their dark greyed purple        color whereas in the autumn, leaves of plants of ‘Natchez White’        turn orange in color.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are lavender in        color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Natchez White’ are white in        color.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Ebony Flame’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous and faster        growing than plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are lavender in        color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ are red in        color.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of Lagerstroemiaindica, ‘Catawba’, not patented. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differprimarily from plants of ‘Catawba’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are dark greyed        purple in color whereas leaves of plants of ‘Catawba’ are green        in color; in addition, in the autumn, leaves of plants of the        new Crapemyrtle maintain their dark greyed purple color whereas        in the autumn, leaves of plants of ‘Catawba’ turn orange red in        color.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are lavender in        color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Catawba’ are dark purple in        color.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can also be compared to plants ofLagerstroemia indica, ‘Muskogee’, not patented. Plants of the newCrapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Muskogee’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are dark greyed        purple in color whereas leaves of plants of ‘Muskogee’ are dark        green in color.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are lavender in        color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Muskogee’ are purple in        color.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are smaller        than inflorescences of plants of ‘Muskogee’.    -   4. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are resistant to leaf spot        (Cercospora lythracearum) whereas plants of ‘Muskogee’ are not        resistant to leaf spot.    -   5. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more resistant to powdery        mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia) than plants of ‘Muskogee’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Crapemyrtle plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Crapemyrtle plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical plant of ‘JM8’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering stein of ‘JM8’ grown in a container in an outdoornursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 7-gallon containers in Park Hill,Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. during the summer and early autumn in outdoornurseries and under cultural conditions which closely approximatecommercial Crapemyrtle production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures averaged 33° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C.Plants were three years when the photographs and the description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM8’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez            White’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative softwood and hardwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one            month at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one            month for softwood cuttings and about two months for            hardwood cuttings at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            brownish white in color, actual color is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to            somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and            sturdy growth habit; rapid growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four to            six primary branches each with numerous secondary and            tertiary lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 2 meters.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 110 cm to 120 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 110 cm.        -   Diameter, proximally.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm to 2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—About 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; woody and glabrous with age;            matte.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 185A and 183A to 183B.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 177A becoming closer to 199B to            199C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse with cuneate tendencies.        -   Margin.—Entire; developing leaves, slightly to moderately            undulate; developed leaves, not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; dull.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A to            147B becoming closer to N186A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A becoming closer to N186C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N186A; venation,            close to 183A and N186A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to more green than 183A; venation, close to            186A and 183A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; somewhat glossy. Strength: Strong. Color, upper            surface: Close to 147A overlain with close to 186A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 183A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Showy single ruffled            flowers arranged in terminal panicles; freely flowering            habit with usually about 50 flower buds and flowers            developing per inflorescence and numerous inflorescences            developing during the flowering season; flowers face upright            and outwardly; flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Crapemyrtle            flower during the late summer and autumn in Central Texas.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 7 cm to 12 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flower length.—About 1.9 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm to 3.25 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Diameter: About 5            mm to 6 mm. Shape: Obovate to spherical. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 184A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in            a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded, undulate, ruffled            appearance. Base: Rounded. Margin: Mostly entire with            shallow sinuation, undulate, ruffled appearance. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            soft/velvety; delicate; matte. Color: When opening, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to NN74C. Fully opened, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to NN74C; colors do not change with            development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five or six            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About            2.5 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 186B. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 184A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to            1.5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 45° to 50°            from stein axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: Proximally, close to 59A to 59B;            distally, close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About            12 to 24. Filament length: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Filament            color: Close to 184A. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 7A. Amount of pollen:            None observed. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color:            Close to 58A to 58B to 55A. Stigma appearance: Spherical to            oblong. Stigma color: Close to NN137A becoming closer to 55A            with development. Ovary: Close to 7A becoming closer to 10B            to 10C with development.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has            not been observed on plants of the new Crapemyrtle.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 38° C. and to be    cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been    observed to be resistant to leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) and    powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Plants of the new    Crapemyrtle have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Crapemyrtle plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM8’ asillustrated and described.